In Congress July 4, 1776

(DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE). SZYK, Arthur., illus. In Congress July 4, 1776. [beginning of text]. Collotype print poster. New Canaan, CT: n.p., 1950. Approximately 37 x 29 inches. Unframed and housed in a protective mylar sleeve. A few minor closed tears to margins, overall very good. One of the final works produced by Arthur Szyk (1894-1951), which he unveiled in New Canaan, Connecticut, on Independence Day 1950. Szyk, a Jewish refugee from Poland, was an artist and illustrator who specialized in medieval-inspired decoration, and is most often remembered for his elaborate Haggadah, containing motifs comparing the Egyptians in the Exodus story to Nazis, first published in London in 1940. In 1948 Syzk became a U.S. citizen and wanted to showcase his patriotism through his work by producing and illustrating the Declaration of Independence. When the original art was first shown in New Canaan, he expressed his wish for the piece to be given to the Library of Congress, where it is currently on display. This illuminated work contains seals of each of the states (then numbering only 48) and territories along with Revolutionary War scenes and portraits of the Founding Fathers, particularly of George Washington, who peers out from the left margin. The size of this work is unusual for Szyk, as he usually gravitated towards much smaller formats intended for books and magazines, rather than display posters. Quite rare in the trade with only one comparable copy at auction this century selling for $2400 in 2013.